Magnetic particle tagged blood bank reagents and techniques

Abstract

Magnets and magnetic particle-labeled reagents are used to capture and / or release magnetic particle-tagged entities for immunohematology diagnostic testing purposes, especially tests performed in blood banking. The magnetic tagged entities may be tagged antibodies, tagged blood cells, tagged universal binding partners, especially tagged lectins and tagged Coombs reagent, and other binding agents such as biotin-avidin, Protein A or G, ligands and their receptors and the like. Separation of unbound material from bound material is effected through the use of one or both the magnetic field effect on the magnetic labeled reactants and the density gradients of layers of an assay construct. Constructs such as chromatographic strip lateral flow format, and liquid phase reactions in suitable vessels with end point determinations that do not require centrifugation to detect reacted entities. Readable labels such as enzymes, fluorophors, chemiluminescent materials, radioactive isotopes, and other labels may be attached to Coombs reagent to provide a readable product of the Coombs reagent with any antibody participating in the assay.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 716,591, filed Sep. 13, 2005.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] (Not Applicable) REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC (SEE 37 CFR 1.52(e)(5)) [0003] (Not Applicable) FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0004] This invention relates to blood banking immunological diagnostic testing and immunohematology and more particularly to blood cell serological testing using magnetic particles and magnets to separate bound entities to be measured from unbound entities. It also relates to the use of chromatographic media and liquid phase media in such measurements. It further relates to determination of antigens, antibodies and other proteins on blood cells, in serum and other bodily samples and the use of buffers and other fluids in the determination process. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION B...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] Another reagent used in the invention are magnetic particles labeled with a red cell binding partner, i.e., a lectin or other universal red blood cell binding material (in effect an anti-RBC). The lectin or other binding molecule should be able to bind magnetic particles to all human red blood cells regardless of blood group, and must not react with Coombs serum or other human antibodies. The magnetic particles are used to move the RBCs through zones or are positioned at a location on a chromatographic strip so that fluids can move by the cells (i.e., the fluids move over the comparatively stationary cells). In this more universal format a labeled AHG reagent, not bound to a magnet, but labeled with a detectable indicator such as an enzyme, fluorophor, and the like, described in more detail below, is used to react with the magnet bound red cell complex and any bound serum antibody.

[0017] An ess...

Problems solved by technology

Initiation of the immune response presents problems for subsequent transfusions and for subsequent pregnancies if she has an Rho (D)-positive mate.

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